Chris Jordan excited by competition fuelled by England youngsters

Jordan, who was not part of England’s World Cup squad during the summer, has not played ODI cricket since 2016 but featured in the T20I win against Pakistan in May

Chris Jordan has admitted he is excited by the breadth of young talent in England’s T20 squad for their tour of New Zealand, even if it provides additional competition for the Sussex bowler.

Jordan, who was not part of England’s World Cup squad during the summer, has not played ODI cricket since 2016 but featured in the T20I win against Pakistan in May.

He is joined in Chris Silverwood’s first squad by Somerset allrounder Lewis Gregory, Lancashire’s Saqib Mahmood and Worcestershire youngster Pat Brown, all of whom give Eoin Morgan seam-bowling options for their five-match contest.

“Anything that makes English cricket stronger makes the team stronger and it keeps everyone on top of their game,” Jordan told PA Media.

“The more guys that we can have pushing for selection, the more headaches we can give selectors.

“We've added a wealth of young talent to the squad which brings in some good energy. It's an opportunity for everyone. I'll have to continue to improve myself and stay on top of my game.”

When England last played T20 cricket abroad on a tour of West Indies in March, Jordan starred for England, recording figures of two for 16 and four for six.

With England’s strength in depth, however, he knows the challenge that awaits him if he is to form part of Silverwood’s squad come the T20 World Cup next year.

“Obviously the World Cup is a nice, little carrot at the end of that few months but it will be one game at a time,” Jordan added.

“If you get too far ahead of yourself, you're not actually concentrating on what's in front of you on the day. You can't build those good habits and that momentum.”